Improvement in bed-bottoms



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JOSEPH TINNEY,u OF WESTF'IELRNEW YORK;

i Letters ment No. 113,596, dated April 1'1, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT lN BED-BQTTQMS.

The Schedule referred to in theseLetters Patent and making parl: of the same.

Nature ofthe Invention.

My invention relates to detachable spring bedbottoms, and consists in making the spring adjustable to the weight of any occupant by means ot' sliding and stationary blocks arranged between the side slats, and the employment of springs placed at eachorner, as hereinafter fully explained.

General Description.

.In thedrawing- Figure 1 is a sectional sideelevation of a bedstead with the spring bed arranged therein.

Figure 2 is aperspect-ive of the spring bed detached from the bedstead.

A represents the bedstead, having two cross-pieces a. a' at either end, on which rest'the loweidongitmlinal frame-pieces B B of the spring bed. 'llhese are formed of two thin pieces of wood, one at each side.

In each corner, and arranged on these frames, are spiral springs b b b b.

On top ot' these are arranged slats O O.

Equidistant from these springs, or about .the conter, the llo-wer frame-,pieces B B and upper pieces C O are rmly connected together by blocks D D. 'lhis is an important feature ofv my invention, as it takes oft' the excessivesinking in the center, 85o., as will oe hereinafter explained.

A head crosspiece, c, and a corresponding foot cross-piece, c', are pivoted or fastened on top of the longitudinal pieces O, and on these are laid vthe usual i wooden slats (l lZ, which are kept in place by pins sitting in the cross-pieces c c and coming through corresponding holes near the ends of the" slats d d'l 'llhese cross-piecesv are made convex on top to reduce the friction of the slats and prevent squeaking.

The spiral springs b b', or their equivalents, placed in the corners, and the slats l dd, give the bed all the spring required; but to adjust the spring ordepression oi' the bed to the size or weight of the perf son or persons occupying it is the main object of my invention. This I accomplish by placing between the upperslat C and lower slat` B rmovable or sliding blocks E E', of either form shown, one being a roller and the other having atlat bottom, which move forward or backward, one toward the head and the other toward the foot ol' the bed, as may be desired.l

They are kept in position by a frame or band, j' j", encompassing the block and upper and lower slats C B, but moving freely.

I do not confine myself to the forms of movable blocks shown, but shall use any movable block similarly placed and that will do the same service.

, The disadvantages of most of the spring beds aretheir great expense, (if good ones5) the sinking in of one or more parts, especially the middle; and their lumpy appearance after short use; also their unwieldiness in handling or moving. l

N one of them are made adjustable, that I am aware of, except so far as raising the head is concerned.

The advantages of my construction. are not only its cheapness and simplicity of form, and the ease with which it is taken out or apart, but mainly in its adjustableness to the requirements of light or heavy persons, or both. I obtain a double elasticity by the use ofthe spiral springs and the slats; the center stationary blocks D D' prevent the bed from sinking too much `in thecenter, and the movable blocks E E adjust the rise and fall of the intermediate spaces. For example, if theoccupant of the bed is a very heavy person, stiffness of springs will be required. This is obtained by moving the blocks E up toward the. spiral springs 4at the headof the bed and the lower blocks toward the bottom springs. It' used by a light or young person, then the movable blocks are set close to the stationary block D and the iull rise and fall of the springs are obtained. When a light and heavy person occupy the same bedeach side can be adjusted ditferent-ly, and so on.

By this arrangement and construction the amount 0i' stiffness or spring is got just Where and when itis wanted, and in the means' whereby this is accomplished consists the novelty.

I claim as my invention- The arrangement ol.' the detachable and adjustable spring bed, constructed of bottom-pieces B B', toppieces C O', united in the center bystat-ionary blocks D D', and having the cornerspiral springs b b b b oru their eqvivalents, and the 'whole made adjustable by means of the sliding or movable blocks EE', or their equivalents, as hereinbet'ore fully set fort-h.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH 1?INNEY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS M KNIGHT, Ansfrin L. Wenns. 

